How a new California bill would subvert a voter ID mandate in Huntington Beach

After suing the city of Huntington Beach earlier this year over its voter ID requirement beginning in 2026 for municipal elections, the state of California may be stepping up its efforts to fight the Huntington Beach mandate. State lawmakers passed a bill on Tuesday, Aug. 27, that would ban all voter ID requirements in the state, and now it just awaits the signature of California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The move follows a back-and-forth legal battle between Huntington Beach and the Golden State. In March, Huntington Beach approved an ID requirement for all city elections. In April, the state sued to stop the ID law, accusing the city of violating the state constitution and federal law.

The new state law passed this week would override Huntington Beach’s charter amendment.

Huntington Beach officials claim that the state Legislature’s move is proof the city’s voter ID mandate never violated the state constitution, as the state had alleged. City officials said that if the bill is signed by Newsom, they’ll be fighting it in court.

The ban’s supporters said that ID requirements hurt election turnout and “create barriers to law abiding voters.” They note that residents already need driver’s license numbers or Social Security numbers to register to vote anyway.

However, critics argue that the current rules leave the door open for voter fraud. One Republican lawmaker reportedly attempted to add an amendment to the bill that would ban all undocumented immigrants from voting in elections in California. However, the amendment failed.

Currently, undocumented immigrants can get California identification numbers and noncitizens can vote in local school board elections in San Francisco. Huntington Beach’s neighbor city, Santa Ana, may soon follow San Francisco’s lead. A measure allowing noncitizens to vote in all city elections will be on the November ballot.